Easy-open pull tab container lid

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a lid having a perimeter, a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tear panel, and a pull tab rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid. The pull tab is rotatable between a closed position in which the entire length of the pull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid, and an opening position in which the handle portion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid. In the opening position, the lid-piercing portion of the pull tab is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and is configured to pierce the rupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is hereby claimed to co-pending provisional application Ser.No. 61/027,979, filed Feb. 12, 2008, which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to easy-open pull tab containers in general,and easy-open beer/beverage

BACKGROUND

Aluminum cans are an ubiquitous part of worldwide commerce. In theUnited States alone, approximately 100 billion 12-ounce aluminum canswere fabricated and sold in 2006. More than half of those aluminumbeer/beverage cans were recycled (Container Recycling Institute,Aluminum Association, U.S. Department of Commerce).

Over the course of the last 40 years, the design of beer/beveragecontainers has changed significantly. Prior to the early 1960's,beer/beverage containers were constructed of steel cores, typicallycoated with tin. The top and bottoms of the cans were flat. The can wasopened using a can piercer, a device resembling a bottle opener, butwith a sharp point. (In many parts of the United States, the can piercerwas humorously referred to as a “church key,” because it was used to letthe spirits (i.e., the beer) out of the container.) The can was openedby punching two triangular holes in the lid—a large hole for drinking,and a small hole to admit air into the can.

The first pull tab cans, in which the pull tab was separated completelyfrom the can (also known as rimple or ring pull cans), are described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,349,949, issued Oct. 31, 1967, to O. L. Brown and D. B.Peters. For roughly 20 years, from the mid-1960's until the mid-1980's,the ring pull can design dominated the worldwide marketplace. The pulltabs, however, were a common form of litter. The tabs themselves, onceremoved, had sharp edges. The tabs were either discarded outright, oroften dropped into the opened can itself. This led to many incidents ofconsumers swallowing the sharp-edged pull tab accidentally.

The now-conventional “stay tab” pull tab design was first disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 3,967,752, issued Jul. 6, 1976, to D. F. Cudzik. Here, thelid contains a rupturable score line which is opened by operating a pulltab having one end (a can-piercing end) adapted to press against thepanel at a position spaced from the score line. The other end of the tab(the handle) is liftable to open the panel and is returnable directly toits original position next to the wall. Both the tab and the rupturedpanel remain secured to the wall after the panel has been moved to itsopen position. By roughly the mid-1980's, the stay tab container designlargely replaced the ring-tab design, worldwide.

One drawback of the stay tab design is that the pull tab is tightlyriveted to the lid to prevent the pull tab from being separated from thelid. This makes it difficult for a significant proportion of consumersto open the container easily. The stay tab opening mechanism requiresthe user to employ a fingertip and/or fingernail to urge the handleportion of the pull tab upward to initiate the opening process. Forpeople with manicured fingernails and/or fingernail extensions, openingstay tab design cans is difficult or impossible without inflictingdamage upon the user's well-manicured nails. For businesswomen inparticular, well-coifed fingernails are a must for presenting aprofessional appearance. The fingernail-damaging aspect of the stay tabdesign is greatly amplified among persons who must open a large numberof such containers as part of their work: most notably flight attendantsand bartenders.

As a result, a number of U.S. patents describe devices for opening theconventional stay tab can without damaging the fingernails. See, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,566, issued Nov. 2, 1993; U.S. Pat. No.5,029,495, issued Jul. 9, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,208, issued Aug. 23,1988; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,544, issued May 26, 1987, all of whichdescribe devices for opening stay tab-type beer/beverage containers.

The solution to the problem, however, lies not in designing a suitabletool for opening the stay tab can, but in designing a better containerlid to replace the conventional stay tab design. The present inventionis such a container lid.

SUMMARY

Thus, the invention is directed to a container lid comprising a lidhaving a perimeter, and further comprising a pre-scored line thatdefines a rupturable tear panel. A pull tab is rotatably and pivotallyattached to the lid, wherein the pull tab comprises a length, a handleportion, and a lid-piecing portion. The pull tab is rotatable between aclosed position in which the entire length of the pull tab is containedwithin the perimeter of the lid, and an opening position in which thehandle portion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid.When in the opening position, the lid-piercing portion of the pull tabis juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and configured to pierce therupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted.

In one version of the invention, the pull tab is substantially planar.In another version of the invention, the pull tab comprises a shoulderthat offsets the handle portion of the pull tab so that the handleportion of the pull tab does not contact the lid when the pull tab is inthe closed position. In the preferred version of the invention, the lidand the pull tab comprise aluminum. The lid may be circular ornon-circular.

Thus, in one of the preferred versions, the invention comprises acircular, aluminum lid having a perimeter dimensioned and configured toengage a container, and further comprising a pre-scored line thatdefines a rupturable tear panel. A substantially planar, aluminum pulltab is rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid, wherein the pull tabcomprises a length, a handle portion, and a lid-piecing portion. Again,the pull tab is rotatable between a closed position and an openingposition, as described earlier.

In another preferred version, the invention a circular, aluminum lidhaving a perimeter dimensioned and configured to engage a container, andfurther comprising a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tearpanel, as well as an aluminum pull tab rotatably and pivotally attachedto the lid, wherein the pull tab comprises a length, a handle portion,and a lid-piecing portion. The pull tab is rotatable between a closedposition and an opening position, as described earlier. In this versionof the invention, the pull tab comprises a shoulder that offsets thehandle portion of the pull tab so that the handle portion of the pulltab does not contact the lid when the pull tab is in the first closedposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top plan view of a container lid according to the presentinvention with the pull tab 12 in the closed position.

FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of the container lid as shown in FIG.1A attached to the top of a container. The pull tab 12 is in the closedposition.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of a container lid according to the presentinvention, as shown in FIG. 1A, but with the pull tab 12 in the openingposition.

FIG. 2B is a front elevation view of the container lid as shown in FIG.2A attached to the top of a container. The pull tab 12 is in the openingposition.

FIG. 3A is a front elevation view of a removable, reusable seal top 30that is dimensioned and configured to frictionally engage the containerlid as shown in FIG. 1A

FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the removable, reusable seal top asshown in FIG. 3A, frictionally engaged to the container lid as shown inFIG. 1A. The pull tab 12 is in the closed position.

FIG. 4A is a top plan view of another version of the container lidwherein the container to which the lid is attached has two (or more)shoulders.

FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the lid shown in FIG. 4A, having aremovable, reusable seal top 40 frictionally engaged to the containerlid and the container itself.

FIG. 5A is a front elevation view of another version of the lid whereinthe pull tab includes a shoulder 13 to offset the handle portion 18 ofthe pull tab from the top of the lid. The pull tab 12 is in the closedposition.

FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of the lid as shown in FIG. 5A. Thepull tab 12 is in the opening position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As noted earlier, a fundamental flaw in the stay tab design containerlid is that the pull tab is riveted to the lid so tightly that it isdifficult to leverage the tab up to open the perforated lid withoutdamaging the fingernails. This problem is compounded in containerdesigns wherein the lid surface is recessed relative to the rim of thecan, thus leaving only a small space in which to insert a finger tip tolift up the pull tab. The present design comprises a stay tab-type liddesign having a pull tab that is riveted to the lid. The lid includes apre-scored panel that defines an opening through the lid. The pull tabcan rotate around the rivet that secures it to the lid. The pull tab isrotatable between a closed position, wherein the entire length of thepull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid (the circumferencein the case of a circular lid), and an opening position, wherein ahandle portion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lidand the lid-piercing portion of the pull tab is juxtaposed with thepre-scored panel. The pull tab may be planar or have an offset so thatthe handle portion easily clears the perimeter of the lid when the pulltab is rotated into the opening position. In this fashion, containersbearing the inventive lid allow extremely easy opening without damagingusers' fingertips or fingernails.

An added feature of the invention is that the lid can be made to have avery small major width (or diameter in the case of a circular lid).Thus, the design is very economical and saves on the amount of metal(typically aluminum) or other material needed to fabricate the lid.

Regarding materials, it is much preferred that the lid and pull tab befabricated from aluminum. Any other suitably stiff material, such assteel or other alloys, tin, plastic, or a combination of thesematerials, may be used to fabricate the lid.

Reference is now made to the attached drawings. The same referencenumerals are used throughout the drawings to identify the same orsimilar elements throughout all of the views. Note that in all of thedrawings, the lid 10 is depicted as being circular, and thus has adiameter “D” and a radius “R.” See FIG. 2B. This is for brevity only.The lid may be in any geometry, without limitation (circular, oval,triangle, square, or any other regular or irregular polygon), so long asthe handle portion 18 of pull tab 12 extends over the perimeter 22 ofthe lid when the pull tab is in the opening position and is containedentirely within the perimeter of the lid when the pull tab is in theclosed position.

Referring specifically now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 1A is a top planview of a first version of a container lid according to the presentinvention. The lid 10 includes a pre-scored panel 20 which defines anopening through the lid, and a perimeter 22. A lever pull tab 12 isrotatably and pivotably attached to the lid by any suitable fastener 14now known or developed in the future. The preferred fastener 14 is arivet. The pull tab 12 includes two ends or portions: a handle portion18 and a lid-piercing portion 16. As shown in FIG. 1A, the pull tab 12is disposed such that the handle portion 18 is juxtaposed above thepre-scored panel 20, and the lid-piercing portion 17 is adjacent to theperimeter 22 of the lid.

FIG. 1B is a front elevation view of the container lid as shown in FIG.1A, with the lid attached to the top of a container. The containerincludes an outside surface 100 and an inside surface 110. The containeritself is not critical to the operation of the lid of the presentinvention, and thus will not be described in any detail. The containermay be made of any suitable material, including the same metals, alloysand/or plastics from which the lid is made. The container may also bemade of glass or flexible plastics. The lid 10 is attached to thecontainer by any suitable attachment now known or developed in thefuture, such as by crimping (as is shown in FIG. 1B) or via matingthreads, or by welding or gluing the lid 10 to the container. Pull tab12 and the fastener 14 that attaches it to the lid 10 are shown.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pull tab 12 is shown in the closed position. Ofcritical importance is that in the closed position, the entire pull tabfits within the perimeter 22 of the lid 10. No portion of the pull tabextends beyond the perimeter 22 of the lid when the pull tab is in theclosed position. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the pull tab is inthe closed position, the handle portion 18 of the pull tab is situatedabove the pre-scored panel 20, and the lid-piercing portion 16 of thepull tab is adjacent to the perimeter 22. The pull tab, however, can berotated from the closed position as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B to theopening position, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pull tab 12 has been rotated to the openingposition. FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the lid 10, while FIG. 2B is afront elevation view of the lid 10 attached to a container having anouter surface 100 and an inner surface 110. As shown in these twofigures, the handle portion 18 of the pull tab 12 extends beyond theperimeter 22 of the lid.

FIG. 2B provides illustrative and preferred dimensions of the lid 10.These dimensions are for illustration only. The lid and pull tab can beof any desired dimensions so long as the pull tab 12 can be rotatedbetween an opening and closed position as described herein. As shown inFIG. 2B, the lid 10 is circular and has a diameter “D” and a radius “R.”The center of the lid is designated by “C”. The fastener 14 ispositioned at an offset distance “O” from the center “C” of the lid. Theposition of the fastener 14 plays a critical role in the operation ofthe lid because the pull tab 12 rotates about the fastener 14, therebyplacing the lid-piercing portion 18 at the appropriate point above thepre-scored panel 20 to pierce the lid when the handle portion 16 islifted. As shown in FIG. 2B, the diameter “D” of the lid is 1.25 inches,the radius “R” is 0.625 inches, and the fastener offset distance “O” is0.231 from the center “C” of the lid.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an added feature of the invention. The lid 10 asdepicted in FIG. 3B is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Thepull tab 12 is in the closed position. FIG. 3A depicts a front elevationview of a removable, reusable seal top 30 that is dimensioned andconfigured to frictionally engage the perimeter 22 of the container lid.The seal top includes a peripheral groove 32 and shoulder 34 that aredimensioned and configured to frictionally engage the perimeter 22 ofthe lid 10.

FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the removable, reusable seal top asshown in FIG. 3A, frictionally engaged to the container lid 10. Again,the pull tab 12 is in the closed position. The groove 32 and shoulder 34of the seal top (see FIG. 3A) frictionally engage the perimeter 22 ofthe lid. A ring 36 is optionally integrated into the seal top 30 toallow the seal top to be easily removed from the lid 10. The seal topallows the lid to be opened and the contents of the container accessed,yet can also be used to reseal the container to save any contentsremaining in the container.

Another version of a removable, reusable top 40 is depicted in FIG. 4B.This type of top is suitable for use in a container that has two moreshoulders that taper the container to fit to the lid 10. FIG. 4A is atop plan view of the lid attached to a container that has two shoulders50 and 52. The lid 10 as depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B is the same as thatshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The pull tab 12 is in the closed position.

FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the lid shown in FIG. 4A, having aremovable, reusable seal top 40 frictionally engaged to the containerlid and the container itself. In the version of the top 40 shown in FIG.4B, the top 40 makes contact at two points: once at the perimeter 22 ofthe lid 10, and once again at the portion of the container betweenshoulders 50 and 52. The lid 40 thus includes a seal 42 for creating afluid-tight seal between the perimeter 22 and the lid 40. The lid 40also includes circumferential flange 46 that is dimensioned andconfigured to frictionally engage the container about its outer surface100, at a point between shoulders 50 and 52.

As shown in all of the prior figures, the pull tab 12 was substantiallyplanar, with the handle portion 18 and the lid-piercing portion 16 beingin the same plane. The pull tab 12, however, may include an offset sothat the handle portion 18 is elevated from the upper surface of the lid10, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A is a front elevation view ofthis second version of the lid. Here, the pull tab 12′ includes ashoulder 13 to offset the handle portion 18 of the pull tab from the topof the lid 10. The pull tab 12 is in the closed position in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5B is a front elevation view of the lid as shown in FIG. 5A. Thepull tab 12 is in the opening position. As shown in FIG. 5B, the uppersurface of the lid 10 is depressed slightly relative to the perimeter22. The handle portion 18 of the pull tab 12 is offset a distance “H”from the level of the lid-piercing portion 16. In FIG. 5B, the pull tabis depicted in the opening position. The handle portion 18 extendsbeyond the perimeter 22 and the lid-piercing portion 16 is positionedabove the pre-scored panel (not shown in FIG. 5B).

In operation, containers bearing the inventive lid are formed and filledin conventional fashion, with the pull tab in the closed position. Whenthe container is to be opened, the user rotates the pull tab 12 from theclosed position to the opening position, so that the handle portion 18hangs over the perimeter 22 of the lid. The user then simply appliesupward force on the handle portion 18, using any suitable part of thehands or fingers.

One aspect of the invention that renders it particularly advantageous inthe aluminum beer/beverage can industry is that the diameter D of thelid (or maximum width in the case of a non-circular lid) can be madequite small relative to the length L of the pull tab 12. See forexample, FIG. 1A. Here, the diameter D of the lid 10 is depicted, as isthe length L of the pull tab 12. As shown in FIG. 1A, the ratio of thelength of the pull tab 12 to the diameter of the lid 10 (i.e. L/D) isapproximately 0.75. The ability of the pull tab to be rotated from aclosed position, as shown in FIG. 1A, to an opening position, as shownin FIG. 1B, allows the lid 10 to be made very small, thus yieldingconsiderable savings in the amount of material (typically aluminum)required to fabricate the lid. At the same time, the relatively longlength of the pull tab 12 allows the container to be opened easilybecause the pull tab affords a sufficient amount of leverage when placedinto the opening position to pierce the panel 20 with minimal effort onthe part of the user. Thus, in the present invention, it is preferredthat the ratio of the length of the pull tab 12 to the diameter of thelid 10 (or the major width of the lid in the case of a non-circular lid)(i.e. L/D) greater than about 0.50, and more preferably greater thanabout 0.60, and most preferably greater than about 0.75. The trade-offin this ratio is that a shorter pull tab and a smaller lid savesmaterial costs, but the shorter pull tab requires more force to beapplied by the user to open the container. A smaller lid, but arelatively longer pull tab also saves material cost, but also yields acontainer that is easy for a user to open.

1. A container lid comprising: a lid having a perimeter, and furthercomprising a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tear panel; apull tab rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid, wherein the pulltab comprises a length, a handle portion, and a lid-piecing portion;wherein the pull tab is rotatable between: a closed position in whichthe entire length of the pull tab is contained within the perimeter ofthe lid, and an opening position in which the handle portion of the pulltab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid and the lid-piercing portionof the pull tab is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and configuredto pierce the rupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pulltab is lifted.
 2. The container lid of claim 1, wherein the pull tab issubstantially planar.
 3. The container lid of claim 1, wherein the pulltab comprises a shoulder that offsets the handle portion of the pull tabso that the handle portion of the pull tab does not contact the lid whenthe pull tab is in the closed position.
 4. The container lid of claim 1,wherein the lid and the pull tab comprise aluminum.
 5. The container lidof any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the lid is circular.
 6. Thecontainer lid of any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the lid isnon-circular.
 7. A container lid comprising: an aluminum lid having aperimeter, and further comprising a pre-scored line that defines arupturable tear panel; a substantially planar, aluminum pull tabrotatably and pivotally attached to the lid, wherein the pull tabcomprises a length, a handle portion, and a lid-piecing portion; whereinthe pull tab is rotatable between: a closed position in which the entirelength of the pull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid, andan opening position in which the handle portion of the pull tab extendsbeyond the perimeter of the lid and the lid-piercing portion of the pulltab is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and configured to pierce therupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted.8. The container lid of claim 7, wherein the lid is circular.
 9. Thecontainer lid of claim 7, wherein the lid is non-circular.
 10. Acontainer lid comprising: an aluminum lid having a perimeter, andfurther comprising a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tearpanel; an aluminum pull tab rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid,wherein the pull tab comprises a length, a handle portion, and alid-piecing portion; wherein the pull tab is rotatable between: a closedposition in which the entire length of the pull tab is contained withinthe perimeter of the lid, and an opening position in which the handleportion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid and thelid-piercing portion of the pull tab is juxtaposed with the pre-scoredpanel and configured to pierce the rupturable tear panel when the handleportion of the pull tab is lifted; and wherein the pull tab comprises ashoulder that offsets the handle portion of the pull tab so that thehandle portion of the pull tab does not contact the lid when the pulltab is in the closed position.
 11. The container lid of claim 10,wherein the lid is circular.
 12. The container lid of claim 10, whereinthe lid is non-circular.
 13. A container lid comprising: a circular,aluminum lid having a perimeter dimensioned and configured to engage acontainer, and further comprising a pre-scored line that defines arupturable tear panel; a substantially planar, aluminum pull tabrotatably and pivotally attached to the lid, wherein the pull tabcomprises a length, a handle portion, and a lid-piecing portion; whereinthe pull tab is rotatable between: a closed position in which the entirelength of the pull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid, andan opening position in which the handle portion of the pull tab extendsbeyond the perimeter of the lid and the lid-piercing portion of the pulltab is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and configured to pierce therupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted.14. A container lid comprising: a circular, aluminum lid having aperimeter dimensioned and configured to engage a container, and furthercomprising a pre-scored line that defines a rupturable tear panel; analuminum pull tab rotatably and pivotally attached to the lid, whereinthe pull tab comprises a length, a handle portion, and a lid-piecingportion; wherein the pull tab is rotatable between: a closed position inwhich the entire length of the pull tab is contained within theperimeter of the lid, and an opening position in which the handleportion of the pull tab extends beyond the perimeter of the lid and thelid-piercing portion of the pull tab is juxtaposed with the pre-scoredpanel and configured to pierce the rupturable tear panel when the handleportion of the pull tab is lifted; and wherein the pull tab comprises ashoulder that offsets the handle portion of the pull tab so that thehandle portion of the pull tab does not contact the lid when the pulltab is in the closed position.
 15. A container lid comprising: a lidhaving a perimeter, a maximum width, and further comprising a pre-scoredline that defines a rupturable tear panel; a pull tab rotatably andpivotally attached to the lid, wherein the pull tab comprises a length,a handle portion, and a lid-piercing portion; wherein the pull tab isrotatable between: a closed position in which the entire length of thepull tab is contained within the perimeter of the lid, and the handleportion is juxtaposed with the pre-scored panel, and an opening positionin which the entire length of the pull tab is contained within theperimeter of the lid and the lid-piercing portion of the pull tab isjuxtaposed with the pre-scored panel and configured to pierce therupturable tear panel when the handle portion of the pull tab is lifted;and further wherein a ratio of the length of the pull tab to the maximumwidth of the lid is greater than about 0.50.
 16. The container lid ofclaim 15, wherein the ratio of the length of the pull tab to the maximumwidth of the lid is greater than about 0.50.
 17. The container lid ofclaim 15, wherein the ratio of the length of the pull tab to the maximumwidth of the lid is greater than about 0.75.
 18. The container lid ofclaim 15, wherein the pull tab is substantially planar.
 19. Thecontainer lid of claim 15, wherein the pull tab comprises a shoulderthat offsets the handle portion of the pull tab so that the handleportion of the pull tab does not contact the lid when the pull tab is inthe closed position.